Microsoft, NBC reportedly getting online divorce

NBC and Microsoft are planning to split up, according to the Daily Beast, whose Howard Kurtz reports the network will be buying back the remainder of their hugely popular MSNBC website from the software giant.

Kurtz quotes people familiar with the matter saying MSNBC.com will be rebranded as NBCNews.com.

NBC executives have grown frustrated at not having sole control of the MSNBC website, which does original reporting as well as aggregating content from the AP, Reuters, New York Times and elsewhere. At the same time, as the MSNBC channel has forged a separate identity as the liberal home of Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz and others, the company has worried about the brand confusion caused by its straight-news site bearing the same name. And the cable channel has lacked a site solely devoted to pushing its personalities.